In his speech, Lammy called for a more active form of fatherhood in the black community, and argued that a renewed focus on fathers would help tackle some of the challenges facing young black people such as educational under-achievement, disproportionate exclusion levels and high crime rates.

He also called for fathers from all backgrounds to remain in touch with their children whatever the relationship with their mothers. He said: ‘Between a quarter and a third of children with separated parents have little to no contact with their fathers. It is not just the structure of families that matters. It is whether fathers continue to contribute to their children’s lives.’